Look out, pay-TV providers -- AT&T just broke out the big stick and announced that it's now beaming at least 100 high-def channels in every last one of its markets. In fact, that's more HD channels than any local cable competitor in any existing
U-verse market. Just in case you were wondering, customers won't be dinged any extra for the new additions, with HD service being included with the U450 tier and available for $10 per month with any other U-verse TV package. So yeah, we're stoked as can be for those with access to this stuff, but can we get a little market expansion going on now that the century mark has been passed?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andres Echevarria @ Mar 2nd 2009 1:56PM
It would be great to get native support for Media Center. This would be the perfect blend between cable and satellite. Too bad they don't have cable card like Verizon.
Michael @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:17PM
Yeah ok, so 100+ channels of HEAVILY compressed hd and/or upconverted SD. No thanks. I'd rather have fewer channels of good HD than that.
Doc @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:20PM
Can anyone that has U-verse service tell me what the picture quality is like for them??
100+ channels is a good mark these days IMO for an HD lineup.
quick @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:57PM
PQ is decent, it's the poorest of the major carriers IMO, I'm comparing it to Comcast, & DirecTV.
But unless if you are very picky its good enough.
Just make sure your lines to your house are capable of 2HD, my parents were stuck with 1HD because of old apartment lines and it sucked. I did however have 2HD at my location and PQ was the same, I was initially a bit disappointed coming from Comcast, but I am very picky. My parents can't tell the difference from U-Verse HD to DirecTV HD, so you may not notice anything different.
Chad @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:21PM
It depends on the station quite a bit. Stations that transmit good HD signals from good HD sources look excellent. I think SD looks decent on my 1080i Plasma as well. The thing to remember is the set top boxes are more like PCs that traditional set tops. They are running some form of Microsoft Windows. I don't know whether it is based on CE, Mobile, Vista or recoded from the ground up (unlikely) it is still prone to freeze ups and needs to be rebooted from time to time. I had problems early on and when the tech learned I was using HDMI he said to switch to Component because HDMI wasn't working properly! (I was told this by a couple of phone support personnel as well) I think the system definitely has potential and I love what it can already do but it is still has quirks that may or may not be deal breakers for you.
Mic @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:37PM
Quality lacks... Better then Comcast, Maybe TimeWarner, BUT!! DirecTV, DishHD kills it.
numerwan @ Mar 2nd 2009 2:43PM
100+ channels... and STILL nothing to watch lmao...
but to be fair, the quality is A+ amazing... I'm still using OTA and am not a subscriber, but when i visit family on the weekends, i still cant believe how good the regular channels look as compared to regular cable TV...
Haze @ Mar 2nd 2009 3:31PM
I have U-Verse 200 with HD and the picture quality is very nice. On occasion when I am downloading too much, the TV can have issues. They are still working out the QOS on it. What they count as part of the 100 channels is Movie Channels. If you are a millionaire and can afford to have all those movie channels, then you have 100 HD. It is more like have 35 or 40 regular channels.
I switched because Dish was crappy when it rained or the wind was blowing. Comcast cost a fortune and their promises of savings were short term and cost more in the long term. Direct TV has a nice picture and it was nicer than Comcast or U-Verse, but was almost as expensive as Comcast.
U-Verse is the best price for the service. I pay $100 for Phone, TV, a second receiver, and Internet with a multi-room DVR.
Aaron @ Mar 2nd 2009 4:46PM
Now, when are they going to get into smaller market cities like the one I live in?
Where, you might ask? Dallas, Texas! We "only" have 1.2 million people... C'mon guys!!!
Jeff @ Mar 2nd 2009 10:52PM
Just don't be the first sucker in your neighborhood to order service that it is "SUPPOSEDLY" available. They will cancel your old service, ie my DSL, prior to install of new service. Then inform you it is NOT actually available because of the way your neighborhood was originally wired. Then it gets better when you call customer service and are informed it will take at least a week and half to re-installed DSL service. As a 10+ year DIRECTV customer with excellent HD picture quality, I swore I would never give cable cos. another dime, but was so angry at treatment by AT&T, I have switched to cable internet and phone service. Again BUYER BEWARE
Tuck @ Mar 26th 2009 2:14PM
Don't be fooled. An attempted U-verse installation at my house has been the worst corporate experience of my life.
The picture quality was terrible. The installer couldn't "de-install" what he had done.
I had TWC re-install just the cable, and AT&T promptly "cut the cord" that TWC had installed one hour before.
I finally threw in the towel, and now I can't even get AT&T to re-install their old DSL service.
10 days of phone calls, incapabable technicians, phone operators with lots of empathy but no real service.
10 days later we still have no internet at all beause AT&T can't re-install until U-verse cancels my account - this process has gone on way to long.
I rue the day I allowed U-verse into my home - don't take the risk - please, please don't do it.
Please.
andrew @ Mar 27th 2009 10:09PM
i just switched to u-verse (from comcast). trying to watch the ncaa's and the picture is just awful. the hd signal just can't keep up with the fast paced action of basketball. picture is grainy, there are trails on fast moving objects. what can i do?